The Protein Brewery Awarded
Half-Million-Euro Grant
to accelerate commercialization of next-generation Fermotein®

Breda, the Netherlands [December 4, 2025] – The Protein Brewery and its consortium partners NIZO Food Research, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research and an international food industry partner, have been awarded a €568,742 commercialization grant by EIT Food to bring next-generation Fermotein® to health & wellness foods. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

The funding will accelerate the development and market entry of Fermotein®, an innovative mycoprotein rich in complete protein, fiber, and health-promoting micronutrients.
This collaboration, led by The Protein Brewery, will significantly expand the applications of the proprietary fungal biotechnology behind Fermotein®. It will also generate scientific insights into nutritional and functional benefits, critical for markets spanning active nutrition and better-for-you food.

The project is divided into two workstreams:

Health & Nutrition Research led by NIZO, who will perform an Infogest digestibility study, and Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, who will conduct a human clinical trial focusing on the potential to naturally reduce post-prandial glucose response and stimulate GLP-1. In collaboration with TNO, the effect of Fermotein® on the ex-vivo GLP-1 response and the possible prebiotic effects of Fermotein® will also be investigated.
Product Development & Commercialization led by The Protein Brewery and its industry partner, will concentrate on optimizing particle size to deliver smoother textures and enhanced sensory experience for spreads, creams, bars and other applications.

““This grant enables us to perform cutting-edge research to substantiate different health benefits of our fungal biomass powder Fermotein®,” says Gilbert Verschelling CTO at The Protein Brewery.

The project consortium contributes to building a sustainable, healthier food system in line with EIT Food’s missions ‘Healthier Lives Through Food’ and ‘Net-Zero Food Systems’. By scaling a nutritious ingredient produced through efficient biomass fermentation, The Protein Brewery and partners support EIT Food’s ambition to diversify the global protein supply. With its minimal environmental footprint - combined with entry into health & wellness foods and supplements - Fermotein® is positioned as a breakthrough innovation. If offers a unique solution to nourish people world wide while safeguarding the planet, marking a significant step forward in shaping the future of food.

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About The consortium Partners

The Protein Brewery
The Protein Brewery is a Dutch food-tech innovator pioneering sustainable nutrition through fermentation. Their hero ingredient, Fermotein®, is a next-generation mycoprotein rich in complete protein, fiber, and health-promoting micronutrients. Designed for better-for-you foods and sports nutrition, Fermotein® delivers clean, whole-food benefits with zero carbs and no empty calories. Headquartered in Breda, they combine cutting-edge biotechnology with a mission to accelerate the global protein transition bringing scalable, planet-friendly solutions to active nutrition and beyond.

For further information:

The Protein Brewery
info@theproteinbrewery.nl

NIZO
NIZO is an internationally renowned contract research company with more than 75 years of experience in food and health innovation, based in Ede. With a team of over 100 experts, Europe’s largest independent food pilot plant, and the integrated strength of science and technology, NIZO helps companies – from startups to multinationals – innovate and scale food products more successfully, quickly, sustainably, and efficiently. 

For further information:

www.nizo.com
Celine Brattinga, Marketing & Communications Manager,
celine.brattinga@nizo.com

Wageningen Food & Bio-based Research
At Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), we develop insights and technologies that help companies, governments and philanthropies make informed, future-proof choices.
Our applied research spans the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing and processing to formulation, packaging, consumer acceptance, and circular reuse.
With extensive experience in nutrition and health research, we design and conduct high-quality clinical trials and mechanistic studies to evaluate health effects of foods and ingredients. Our innovative facilities, in-house analytics and strong collaborative network enable end-to-end research, ensuring that scientific insights translate into validated, real-world impact.

For further information:

Wageningen Food & Bio-based Research
Diederik Esser, Senior Scientist,
diederik.esser@wur.nl